Under gravel filter opinions

[BigBoyStatus]

Just curious to hear y'all's opinions on UGF's. I have one myself, in unison with a flu all 305 canister filter. I've heard they are both good and bad

 

[gilpi]

I used them back in the 80's in my saltwater tanks. You can't beat them, lots of surface for bacteria to grow. Some use it in a reverse mode. I no longer have SW tanks so I use only canisters for my FW tanks. Not very popular anymore.
Do you have a power head on yours?

 

[BigBoyStatus]

I used them back in the 80's in my saltwater tanks. You can't beat them, lots of surface for bacteria to grow. Some use it in a reverse mode. I no longer have SW tanks so I use only canisters for my FW tanks. Not very popular anymore.
Do you have a power head on yours?

No, I use an air pump for mine, but the right tube of the filter doesn't pump air very well (by that I mean it might as well not be there because the actual pumping it does is zero). Would the usage of an actual power head fix that you think? It's a 75 gallon SA Cichlid tank, btw.

 

[gilpi]

Ok, two things that I'm not crazy about, one, you have a big tank and for the under gravel filter to work properly you need good flow or you will have some "dead" areas, I think even a small power head will do.
The other is, under gravel filters and cichlids don't mix. Cichlids as we know are diggers and will disturb your under gravel filter.
I'm sorry I can't give you better news

 

[BigBoyStatus]

Ok, two things that I'm not crazy about, one, you have a big tank and for the under gravel filter to work properly you need good flow or you will have some "dead" areas, I think even a small power head will do.
The other is, under gravel filters and cichlids don't mix. Cichlids as we know are diggers and will disturb your under gravel filter.
I'm sorry I can't give you better news

Oh I've learned the digging thing myself - I'll look into a power head, thanks for the input

 

[Mr tap water]

Hi there when i used under gravel filters many years ago you used to be able to buy a plastic mesh To put between your gravel and your filters or even between gravel if you got diggers